Starting a new warband for a new campagin, already got the models and played a couple of prelude games (of which the Pontius Daemonhost is gained)
Anywho here he is;
Background
Pontius was born to well off parents on a recovering imperial colony within the gothic sector of segmentum obsurus. His parents owning a share of the trade markets, with connections to rouge traders and the like, his family were more or less appreciated. From the military to the crime lords; someone from all facets of Ractus III at one point worked through the Cain family. A keen and promising child, he was put through some of the best schools, taking an affinity to history, literature and science. A junior position opened within the imperial library of Ractus, the capital, and of the 1000s of applicants, Pontius was chosen. Although not as well learned as some of the other applicants, it was through a thought provoking speech that pushed him above the others.
Through his work at the imperial library, he made librarian by 35, quite the achievement, and expanded his knowledge on to all aspects of the imperium in some way. What really caught his attention was the Ecclesiarchy and the formation of the inquisition. Being a recovering imperial colony, it contained both ancient and revised lore regarding these topics, and Pontius enjoyed comparing between the two.
Occasionally a Ministorum priest would arrive to both take and donate new books, and Pontius would hide certain books he knew would be taken. However on one occasion a menacing member arrived with the priest's band, he was no ordinary man. He was a cloaked and of great stature, and seemed to be leading the priest through the library. The priest at first requested a copy of a tattered book regarding the thoughts of various inquisitorial factions and how they are all great and would see the banishment of evil. Pontius denied he knew of it. The priest was pushed aside by the cloaked man, and which point Pontius noticed a flicker of gold quickly move from under his robes, clearly an inquisitorial rosette.
Now Pontius was a strong willed man, often going head to head with people outside his rank, but this was no planetary official it was an inquisitor. "Where is the book?" the inquisitor asked menacingly. Pontius's speech not quivering yet, he denied knowledge, however when the question was asked again, Pontius was pushed backwards by the words, "We know it is here, don't lie, it must be destroyed." His voice now quivering, "No books should be destroyed!" The eyes of the inquisitor widened, "you dare question me," the inquisitor drew a sword, "how many other forbidden texts have you hidden?!" Pontius scampered backwards up against a wall, "As many as needed," he replied defiantly, standing to his feet. The inquisitor walked closer to Pontius, "you foul heretic, I do not know how this planet has survived with you,"pointing his finger, "as one of its chief librarians. I will end the heresy here," Raising his sword about to strike, Pontius remained defiant, he would rather die than let lore disappear forever. As the blade was about to decapitate Pontius, there was a gunshot, striking the inquisitor's hand. The inquisitor immediately turned to face the direction the shot came from, as many of his warband members ran in the same direction. Pontius ran for his office and watched the fight from his window. There was a series of more gunshots as the inquisitor's warband ran around the corner in the direction of the initial gunshot. The inquisitor drew a hand cannon from his robes and shot blindly into the bookcases, hoping to hit his attacker. There was a cry in pain after one of the shots but it appeared to have mostly failed. A man laden in ornate carapace armour rounded the corner and easily shot the inquisitor in the knee and then the both his arms, walking up to him, the man butted the inquisitor in the head knocking him out. "You are set for trial"
After the smoke cleared Pontius approached this new man, which he discovered too was an inquisitor, Inquisitor Frastus Mark. After generously discussing with Pontius the events the just occurred, it was discovered that the inquisitor that attempted to kill Pontius was in fact an inquisitor to be returned to The Conclave for trial, Frastus would not divulge for what.
"I am still going to require that book along with a large collection of others which I know you have." Frastus remarked,
"Are you going to destroy them?" Pontius replied annoyed,
"No, they are to be sent to this sectors conclaveal libraries to be keep for as long as that conclave exists,"
"I don't believe you."
"Believe me. I would rather risk my life," using his hand reference the brief encounter that occurred, "than see the loss of something as profound and needed as history."
This touched Pontius, "Then I must come with you then to ensure the survival of such texts." He replied matter of factly
Raising his eyebrow, "it would be wise to not take such tones with an inquisitor, you cannot demand anything."
"Then I will not give you the texts." Pontius started to become nervous again.
Frastus began to feel what Pontius felt; a bond between the two, both would rather risk life than see something so beautiful disappear.
"You are a psyker are you not?" Frastus asked
"Do not change the topic."
"I am afraid Pontius that I am going to have to take you with me on changes of not being a sanctioned psyker. And you will tell me where the texts are."
"What! I will do no such thing."
"I am afraid you have no choice," placing emphasis on the following, "you will have to come with me, and you will bring the texts with you." A member of Frastus's band was to interrupt, however Frastus raised his hand to stop him.
Pontius picked up on what was being said and reluctantly agreed. Pontius proceeded to gather all the hidden texts and bring them to Frastus, before being taken away on his spacecraft.
Frastus was not initially intent of making Pontius an acolyte, however when word of Pontius's successful completion of sanctioning got to him it roused his interest. A student of great knowledge and a sanctioned psyker, there is potential. Recalling his previous encounter with Pontius he remembered his strong and defiant will; a great tool against the daemon. He was wise to place him in the Adeptus Astra Telepathica, then to of sent him to trial.
While acolyte to Frastus, Pontius was more of a background member to his warband, delving into Frastus's countless texts; Pontius greatly expanded his knowledge of Chaos and the Warp. However Frastus insisted on weapons training, "How can you protect your knowledge without power?" Pontius became accustomed to ranged weaponry as opposed to close combat, having seen many member of Frastus warband die attempting close combat. However Pontius was often called to duel Frastus with a sword. Pontius with his new found knowledge would raise questions of the potential of daemonology and hosting. Frastus always blatantly refused. Frastus would discuss with Pontius the potential for disaster and the countless Inquisitors that have failed, using psychic powers was more than enough chaos to be using than to let alone use a daemonhost or weapon. Pontius would continually rebuttal his points with references to great and successful use of using the daemon against itself, however Frastus would still raise his points on risk vs gain.
At 87 Pontius was grated the status of Inquisitor, and he quickly began his own library. Frastus donated many of his texts to Pontius upon becoming inquisitor, and would intermittently contact him about more donations. Pontius stepped deeper into the fields of daemonology, becoming a member of prominent Xanthite groups, he greatly expanded his knowledge further. He became close to many highly respected inquisitors within the Xanthites with discussions on using the daemon appropriately. At 289 he became a speaker for the ideology at many inquisitorial gatherings, and was recently allotted a time within in segmentum obsurus conclave to give a formal speech on his thoughts, along with speakers from many other ideologies.
One of his first battle field experiences was alongside the death korps of Krieg during a siege against an imperial bastion complex which had turned to chaos, and Pontius was called to investigate the true nature of the chaotic taint. Pontius was intrigued by the nature of this regiment's doctrines, unlike many other imperial regiments. The most fascinating were the Quartermasters. Instead of having medics the death korps used quartermasters to give the last rights to injured men on the battlefield and salvage their supplies and weapons. Pontius accompanied a couple during the war, many were bleak mined men almost obsessed with death. However when he accompanied one particular quartermaster, Solomon Gaius, he saw that they were still human. Solomon came across another quartermaster a dear friend of his. Solomon and his friend were both elderly soldiers well into their 70s, considering they were a part of the death korps, they should have been dead by now. The two began to become isolated from the rest of the men beyond that of being a quartermaster, and younger fitter quartermasters were moving through the ranks. When it came to the point where Solomon had to help his dear friend into death, Pontius could feel the emotion. There was silence when they saw each other, broken by Solomons words. The Last Rites. His hand shaked when he drew his pistol and aimed it at his friend's head. After pulling the trigger he stood there for a moment in silent contemplation. "He was a good man inquisitor, why should I have killed him? He could have still been treated!"
"That is not for me to say, however should I have had my way, he would have been treated and sent back to the battlefield, the imperium needs as many good men as it can take."
After the war Pontius propositioned Solomon to join him, pointing out that he was a good man and would not like to see him helped into death. Solomon agreed, his anger at the regiment still heated. Solomon is now 579 years of age and having served with Pontius for more than 500 years he has become Pontius's most trusted man.
Pontius has 1000s of members within his warband, piloting and attending his cruiser The Regent, attenting his many houses across the sector, however only a few are worth mention, most important Solomon Gaius above. However Pontius has also employed bounty hunter Mendoza Senador for more than 100 years. Is extremely close friends with a Professor Lord Regis Gallus at the Universariat of Terra, the man late in his 4000s and has received a letter of commendation from the under secretary of the second office of the Master of the Administratum for his efforts. A tech magos who has served as chief artificer within Pontius's warband for hundreds of years is often brought into discussions. His three wives, Elizabeth, Ecaz and currently Vernius. All have been strong psykers. And finally the most recent addition daemonhost Eurynomos, a daemon herald bound to cherubim (to be expanded).
Telkhis is a daemon bound to an ancient black powder pistol. The pistol was an heirloom passed down through Pontius's family. Pontius found it touching that it was to be used in his first daemon binding. Nervously he used the preliminary knowledge he had on daemonbinding gained at the Xanthite libraries to perform this enormous feat. During the summoning he saw a glimpse of the daemonic beast, shocked at first, no description he had ever read accurately described what he saw. This momentary lapse let the beast gain pull in the ritual, quickly snapping out of his daze he pulled the reins and successfully bound the daemon to the pistol. After it all he felt a weird amalgamation of emotions; fear will I get caught?; pride I bound this myself; fright I bound this myself?!; it was a daunting feeling. Eventually after a few days of contemplation he felt his initial principles return; knowing that what he had done would benefit the imperium greatly.
Teumesios was not the first daemon Pontius attempted to use in his daemonfinder helm, having gone through 3 daemons previously, a beast, a horror and a fiend, all failed in some aspect. The beast failed to even register daemons; Pontius believing that the daemon was not powerful enough; he moved to a horror, although registering daemons, it worked only within the immediate vicinity and caused visions that began to blind him; the fiend appeared to work well, however although having enormous range it only picked up on Slannesh and Nurgle daemonic properties. Pontius believed that it would take a daemon prince for the technology to work; the power of a prince should give him almost infinite range and pick up on any type or form of daemonic presence. By now Pontius had gained a large repertoire of knowledge regarding the "Daemon" however this was the first daemon prince Pontius was to bind. He performed the ritual with the aid of his previous wife Ecaz aboard his ship The Regent. Although Ecaz was very strong willed the ritual ultimately killed her, stripping her of the desire to live and she lost all feelings of purpose in her life. Regardless of how many times Pontius and Solomon would discuss with her the imperium and the need for inquisitors and strong willed psykers like herself it seemed to just pass through one ear and out the other. Pontius knew that this change in behaviour was a result of the daemon binding ritual, and this fact eats at him constantly. He knows within himself that although with two psykers the binding procedure is easier, the initial reason behind him wanted to bring Ecaz into the ritual was because he feared for his life, he had never attempted a daemon of such power before and he feared it might consume him in one way or another.
Polycritus was a Daemon known for eating its own kin. Belonging now to Tzeentch, Polycritus was originally an undivided beast of great strength. After consuming multiple daemons it began to manifest new powers and strengths, eventually coming into the destiny path of a Lord of Change. The beast unwittingly attempted to devour it. Barely standing a chance the changer of ways transmogrified it into a servant of Tzeeentch. Pontius had been following this daemon for some decades early in his career, believing its ability to inherit new powers from devouring other daemons remarkably interesting; the possibilities of this endless, "could it be bound to a weapon that would gain strength and power from daemons it would banish?" However Polycritus had become bound to Tzeentch by the time Pontius could act, and appeared to have lost its ability to develop new powers, additionally soon after becoming a servant of Tzeentch Polycritus was becoming more and more difficult to follow eventually falling off Pontius's charts, disappearing for some time. It took centuries of research, study and field work to pick up on Polycritus's trail again. After determining a thinning in the warp and combining ancient rituals with his new Daemonfinder helm he managed to find Polycritus again. Polycritus was a Daemon Prince now, infinitely stronger and smarter compared to his previous form, he rapidly moved through Tzeentch's ranks. Wary now of his own ability to bind a Daemon of such power after the loss of his previous wife Ecaz, Pontius cautioned himself on proceeding. However determination and desperation took over and he decided to proceed. It would be an extraordinarily complex binding procedure, having decided that he wished Polycritus to be bound to not only the sword but to him as well, granting him the ability to call the weapon to hand at a thought. Pontius had focused so much so on the peculiarities of this new binding principle and its safeguards that he forgot one small fundamental piece of the ritual. Ironically Polycritus had become aware of Pontius's actions to bind him. Polycritus had set in play his own, what he thought crippling tricks, manipulating small facets of the material universe regarding Pontius's ritual. He believed that such changes would cause Pontius's soul to be trapped to his will instead, holding him within the warp for eternity. As the ritual preceded a twisted grin manifested to Polycritus's beak, the daemon chortled as the final piece of the ritual was set and he could feel himself being pulled from the warp. Pontius under the extreme pressure of binding the daemon by himself, daring not to potentially cause the down fall of his new found love, he began to feel like he was experiencing an intense fever; he was both boiling and freezing simultaneously. Just as the Polycritus was to appear from the warp Pontius noticed a missing letter stroke above one of his blood sigils in the ritual, trying to cry out in fear of the impending disaster he was blasted backwards with extreme force and knocked unconscious against the room wall. He awoke hours later in a haze, blue and yellow smoke floated on the floor; standing he failed to notice the sword held in his right hand. He made his way back over to the ritual site and sat down on a stone step, wondering how he was still alive. His head darted backwards as he noticed the sword in his hand, now glowing with daemonic runes, he tried to let go bit it would not drop, about to use his other hand the sword teleported to it before the neuronal signals could reach his hand. A large childlike grin appeared on his face as he cautiously assumed the binding a success.
Being blasted back to the ground again, his head felt like it was to explode; a bellowing cry pummelled his brain. He began to slowly understand the shrieks. "What! How! Why! Why Tzeentch! Why!" Unbeknownst at the time to both Pontius and Polycritus, they had been soul bound to each other, should Pontius die, Polycritus would be banished to the warp forever, until Pontius's soul somehow walked the materium again. Similarly should Polycritus be banished Pontius would die. The bond was so strong that should the weapon be removed from Pontius both would be in extreme agony and should the will and intelligence of one rise or drop so would the other congruently. It took decades before the daemon understood this, most-likely out of denial. Polycritus had tried almost every resource he had to release the bond, even taking control of Pontius once he tried to unbind himself, the agony grew to such a level that he had to stop. Pontius now at the age of 889 uses his frail body as a diplomacy tool when dealing with Polycritus, threatening his suicide. However of recent decades this has not been required. Polycritus has began to somewhat accept his situation, and has slowly began to gain his devouring abilities back, often being feed daemons during Pontius's escapades. It was later discovered by Polycritus that Tzeentch had blinded him to Pontius's failing, knowing to well that the combination of Pontius's missing letter stroke and Polycritus's manipulations the result would end in the current situation.
Polycritus has also become himself almost a close member of Pontius warband over recent years. Being brought into discussions, Ponitus has acted on his advice on occasion, knowing too well that Polycritus would dare not place him in harms way.
Character
WS BS S T I Wp Sg Nv Ld Speed
68 74 54 63 66 93 92 86 89 4
Left Handed
Age: 889
Gear: Flak Armour (AV3) all but head, Daemonfinder Helm (AV 4 head), 2 digiweapons left hand (1 las, 1 needle choke), Daemon sword Polycritus, Daemon pistol Telkhis, Half bionic brain advanced (no 1% of failure).
Special Abilities: Word of the Emperor, Daemonic Experience
Psychic Abilities: Gaze of Death, Psychic Ward, Sanctuary, Banishment, Confound Daemon.
Daemonic Experience: Treat daemonic Terrify as test at -10% instead of -40%.
Deamonfinder Helm: This provides four points of protection to the head, grants Pontius Wyrd – Mind Scan (Deamon), Mind Scan (Other) and Psi-track and also includes an equipment piece akin to an aura-scrye, however Pontius only becoming automatically aware of daemonic beings in his facing arc. Each time that Pontius uses the Daemonfinder helm to use Mind Scan (Deamon/Other) or Psi-track he is subject to normal psychic power rules, in addition he must commune with the Deamon Teumesios bound within, do so after the psychic test. To do so, he must pass a Willpower test. If this is failed then he reduces his Wp by D10, this can be in addition to Wp loss due to failed psychic powers and overloads. He may concentrate, as with a psychic power, to add +10 to his Wp for both casting the psychic power and communing with the daemon. As always, a roll of 96+ will automatically fail. As being a demonically bound item Pontius must pass a Willpower check at the beginning of each turn as per daemon weapon rules (Willpower 100).
Daemon Weapon Telkhis: The pistol is a daemon weapon with the following profile;
Type Range Firing Mode Accuracy Damage Shots Reload Weight
Pistol E Single -10% 3D3+3/Fiery Blast * (3) 25
It has the daemonic properties Fiery Blast and a Willpower of 50. To reload the weapon it is akin to recharging it, as the daemon within must summon up more energy to launch another shot.
Daemon Weapon Polycritus: Polycritus is a daemon weapon in the form of a sword with the following properties; Breathe, Daemonbane, Deflection, Magic Absorption, Supremely Bound, Invigorate, Discuss.
Supremely Bound: Follows normal rules as per "Bound", however Pontius will take d6 damage without the need for a willpower test should he ever be removed from his weapon. Additionally although Pontius still requires a Wp test at the beginning of each turn (Polycritus Wp 120), instead of acting in a self sacrificing chaotic way, roll on the following chart:
1 – Polycritus pulls Pontius away from battle as quick as possible, Pontius must spend all his actions trying to escape from combat and run away from anyone or thing, enemy targets taking priority if needed.
2 – Polycritus pulls Pontius into a state of instability, Pontius may do nothing this turn except defend himself (i.e. deflect shot, parry, dodge) and is under the effect of the psychic power instability.
3 – As per (2) however Pontius walks in a random direction for all actions, roll one direction for all walk actions.
4 – Polycritus forces Pontius to take cover, treat as under the effects of a failed nerve test, and continue diving towards cover if one action does not take you there.
5 – Polycritus is attacked by Pontius trying to take back control. Pontius and is under the effects of being stunned this turn, he does not go prone; he is stunned in the stance he is in.
6 – The heated battle between Pontius and Polycritus increases, Pontius stumbles in a random direction for all his actions (roll random direction for each action). Should he come within 3 yards of a target (friend of foe) he will initiate combat using all remaining actions to attack, but loses + 10% to hit on the change attack. Roll a die each stumble action to see what speed it is;
1-2 Walk
3-5 Run
6 Sprint
Should more 1s than 6s be rolled risky actions as normal.
Invigorate: Treat as gain True Grit, however may only recover from system shock.
Discuss: Pontius will often discuss with Polycritus plans and impending events, should Pontius wish to do so he must spend D3+1 actions conversing, after which Pontius will count as having +4D10 Sagacity for the rest of the scenario. Pontius must pass a Wp test for each action in discussion or the talk fails to prove fruitful. Once a discussion is started it must finish, it may be combined with other actions as per normal. Pontius may discuss with Polycritus as many times as he wishes.
Mendoza, Eurynomos, Solomon and Vernius will be my immediate warband members, their rules and background to be incoming.
Holy wall of text Batman!!! :O
Well I can olny see a few flaws but a man (Gallus) can not reach 4000 even in 40K, though thas most likely a typo
Also, Soloman is 579??? Those must be some damn good juveant treatments! Even the most powerful Governors and Rouge Traders don't live that long!
Cheers,
Solomon has unfortunately and against his will become mostly bionics, both arms and legs, chest pretty much everything but a few slivers of skin and a crap eye.
No, Gallus is in his late 4000s in a matter of speaking, his body is simply robotic and his consciousness is contained within a few bionic brain servo skulls.
Unless even with someone being entirely bionic they cannot reach well into their late thousands?
Ummmmm.... Maybe. In the SM novle Salmander there was a SM that fought in the Horus Hearsy. That would make him at least 10,000 years old. Wich dose not puy 4000 years of age out of total reach
And if he is so, then he better have some REALY good bionics and juveant treatments!
They can, but even massive bionic enhancement can't prevent the various psychological problems that occur - the oldest of Arch-Magi, some of whom might even remember the later stages of the Scouring, would be completely insane. However, any character might be born 4000 years ago with relative easy - stasis sleep, warp distortion, or even relativistic effects can easily stretch a life out.
Indeed however I can't help but feel this char would be a little over powered for who he is.
I mean you would at least need an Advanced Bio Brain, Advanced bio Lungs, Advanced bio Heart, glands etc, and so on, maybe even arms and legs.
That would put a few of his stats well over 100 on par with a really powerful Inquisitor/Inquisitor Lord or even a SM!
Unless you make unique rules for him.....
You could use the tech priest rules I wrote for DM that give you a lot more options for making a heavily bionic character without him being over-powered. For example, bionic arms that have other features not just increased strength.
Agree that the age issue is a bit...much. Some Chaos Space Marines may indeed be 10,000 years old - but time is relative within the warp - 10,000 years in the Imperium time line can be massively distorted within the Eye of Terror.
If you really want any character to be significantly older than the typical augmented and rejuvinated individual, (which probably tops out somewhere around 300 after VAST expense and string pulling) I'm sure he will have travelled at some point; a few warp jumps - especially long, unplanned or uncharted jumps - could put him decades, centuries adrift from his contemparies. He could have been born 4,000 years ago but the vagaries of warp travel now 'make' him massively older.
Otherwise, as stated, a bionic conciousness is probably going to be totally insane after bouncing around a few circuit boards for so long, which would rater negate any benefits of accumulated wisdom, and even augmentations have a lifespan. I'd imagine that the really old members of any organisation are carefully cosseted in an office where their experience guides the organisation, rather than running about in the cold, looking for a toilet every 5 minutes and loosing thier glasses....
Perhaps he was in a stasis field or cryo tube of some sort for all those years?
As for a chaos marine being 10,000 yes that is true however as I said before there was a Slalamander who was 10,000, it seems that a loyalist space marine's heavly beefed up body and live for a long time. Perhaps he can be Tech-Marine?
Haha, I think I should of explained Regis's position better. Regis is still acting as a professor lord at terra, his character (which although may get a model done for him) is mainly for background purposes and will probably not see a scenario, at best maybe 1 or 2.
As for his bionics, I would not see them in anyway built for strength or anything similar. I see them more as thin delicate constructs with many spiderlike fingers and tendrils to help in the lab. Having moved to bionics after being annoyed about having to get new vat grown parts every couple of hundred years.
However the main question would be then could a person fend off insanity after being moved into bionic brains for thousands of years?
I planned to explain his letter of commendation for his efforts in neuroscience and his prototypal work in new bionic brains. Where he was working in partnership with a Lord Magos from the Mars Institute of Technology.
Quote from: Corrino on August 02, 2011, 12:44:38 PMHaving moved to bionics after being annoyed about having to get new vat grown parts every couple of hundred years.
Bionics are far higher maintenance than biological parts. I can expect my different organs to work reasonably well for some decades without any real maintenance - but a car would be doing well to eke out a half decade without any attention. Also, I can repair minor damage automatically - no attention needed.
New vat grown parts might be an appointment every few decades or couple of hundred years. Bionics would need more servicing, repair whenever they get damaged... they're not the choice of someone who is fed up of needing repair and replacement.
Ok. Well that changes a couple of things. Although I still see him with bionic hands, he may just be vat grown parts now. However you can't vat grow a copy of your brain can you. So I still run into the problem of his consciousness. Hmm.
Quote from: Corrino on August 03, 2011, 12:53:59 AMHowever you can't vat grow a copy of your brain can you.
Yes and no.
The Imperium do have the ability to provide biological/machine interfaces for at least some elements of memory, storing it in artificial engrams. However, I don't know the AdMech would possess, or even much care about, the technology to move more than "Knowledge". Elements like personality and muscle memory might well be lost.
I've used the idea a couple of times.
Once in a set of characters I wrote for an RP, where the Inquisitor's savant had been fitted with the engrams of their deceased predecessor - ultimately, that RP never ran, but I was going to play him as very identity confused (particularly as his predecessor was female!) with frequent attacks of deja vu and occasional flashes of unexpected brilliance.
The other was the Clone-Kings, someone (or someones) who have been cloning themselves every couple of hundred years, implanting their artificial engrams into their successor so as to enjoy a form of pseudo-immortality. Highly heretical, of course (although more to do with the cloning).
He/they went totally potty. The 17th incarnation had sixteen other sets of memories (with increasingly corrupt data) and all the mental disorders that those predecessors had developed as a result of the conflicts in their head. It would have become even worse, but that incarnation was assassinated, ending the line.
Just on a tangent, what about a character that was kept in stasis and used almost in the fashion as a living memory bank. I.e. Regis after becoming a professor lord was to be put in stasis and his brain in accessed from outside of his body to retract information. And only when he is personally needed is he fully removed from stasis. I don't exactly see his character in this state, but I think it could be something to toy with.
Information could also be artificially placed into his brain. And would see him reach almost any age.
I'm a bit puzzled by the terminology "Professor Lord" and "Martian Institute of Technology"... Mechanicus high-ups are usually termed some variety on "Magos", with prefixes such as Arch-, High, Grand, Supreme, Holy, etc. And the idea of Mars in the 41st Millennium having a particular "Institute of Technology" is like Earth having a single Earth Institute of Technology right now...
I am having a little fun with it :D.
The Martian Institute of Technology was just a name I came up with on the spot, the various university like training institutes on Mars would most likely be some long winded name i.e. The Holy Martian Supreme Institute of Technological Questing ... etc. Twenty words later. There would be thousands of these "Institutes' all across Mars. Similarly on Terra there would be various Universariat-esque institutes, devoted to teaching both blatently useful and useless information to the very upper class.
As for Professor Lord, perhaps the title is a little too short again.